Preemption announcements - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

opus · 02-02-2026, 11:37 PM

When did the networks start and eventually stop the practice of telling you that the show you wanted to watch wasn’t on that week?

https://youtu.be/oei2qaewkYA?si=DlEom9KLABnlspoY

https://youtu.be/B5nZZ50VmVE?si=-S3oDmE1H65rLGd2

TJ · 02-25-2026, 11:43 PM

It seems like they started in the 1950s. They were mostly phased out by the late 1980s or early 1990s when more people had VCRs. There aren't as many last minute schedule changes like there used to be.

Short answer: it crept in during early network TV (late 1940s–1950s), peaked in the classic network era (1950s–1970s), and faded out by the late 1980s–1990s as TV technology and habits changed.

Here's the longer, more satisfying version by ChatGPT.

https://chatgpt.com/share/699fc0c9-d...5-45641fcb7ef9

02-02-2026, 11:37 PM	#1
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,053	Preemption announcements When did the networks start and eventually stop the practice of telling you that the show you wanted to watch wasn’t on that week? https://youtu.be/oei2qaewkYA?si=DlEom9KLABnlspoY https://youtu.be/B5nZZ50VmVE?si=-S3oDmE1H65rLGd2

02-25-2026, 11:43 PM	#2
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,648	It seems like they started in the 1950s. They were mostly phased out by the late 1980s or early 1990s when more people had VCRs. There aren't as many last minute schedule changes like there used to be. Short answer: it crept in during early network TV (late 1940s–1950s), peaked in the classic network era (1950s–1970s), and faded out by the late 1980s–1990s as TV technology and habits changed. Here's the longer, more satisfying version by ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/share/699fc0c9-d...5-45641fcb7ef9